I Got the Kim Kardashian Vampire Facial

Clearly, I needed to do this myself.

Last year, I watched Kim Kardashian walk into a spa with her BFF Jonathan Cheban to get a facial. A normal, everyday occurance in the life of Kim Kardashian, right? Only during this particular facial, Kardashian's face was stabbed with tiny needles full of her own blood. She got what's since been dubbed a "vampire facial" and viewers were pretty shocked. The procedure uses a tool call a Dermapen that contains several (9 in Kim's case) acupuncture-sized needles that get injected into your face causing you to bleed and cry—at least if we are to believe what we saw on that episode of Kim and Kourtney Take Miami. See below:

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Despite being a bit afraid, I clearly needed to do this myself. I headed to the offices of facial plastic surgeon Dr. Jon Turk's office who, along with his trusty esthetician Emilia Kozlowski, specializes in the procedure.

First, I needed to find out the point of all this. Why on EARTH would you inject your face with your own blood?

Dr. Turk told me that the Dermapen facial is meant to stimulate collagen and elastin fibers, which makes your skin smoother and all around clearer. It's gotten so popular that his estheticians are doing 90-100 of these facials a month.

"The Kim Kardashian facial is a variation of the Dermapen treatment," Dr. Turk told me. "It includes the use of platelet-rich plasma which is taken from the patient's own blood. The platelets further stimulate collagen and elastin growth, so it's essentially a "turbo charged" Dermapen treatment. It's especially good for patients who cannot complete a full treatment plan of four [standard Dermapen] treatments (Ed note: that costs $2,500) or whose collagen has been weakened by age or the environment."

I was ready. But first I was told I wasn't going to get the full Kim Kardashian vampire treatment. Mine would be the starter's version: the basic Dermapen version.

"But don't worry," Kozlowski told me. "It's the same sensation and we'll get you bloody!"

The Dermapen treatment started out like any facial: First there was a cleansing, exfoliation, and toning treatment with delicious Biologique Recherche products followed by dermaplaning, which can best be described as a close shave intended to rid your face of dead skin. I felt the pollution fall off my face.

Next Kozlowski applied a suction-cup like device filled with water and nutrients for a HydraFacial, meant to resurface the skin and produce ultimate exfoliation and hydration. Think of it as your skin taking the best gulp of water it's ever had.

Then came the extractions. I would say they hurt, but the truth was I was so anxious for the Dermapen part to start I barely noticed… which came next!

Emilia massaged my face with Sérum Grand Millésime by Biologique Recherche, a serum that contains tons of antioxidant agents to brighten and tone the skin. She then turned on the Dermapen (which sounded like a dentist's drill). I took a deep breath and she let 'er rip.

"The Dermapen drives the serum into the deeper layers as the absorption of the serum is increased 100 fold," Emilia told me as she needled my face.

And while I had been having nightmares about getting my face attacked with needles, I felt virtually nothing: a bit of pain around my nose, but save that, no pain.

After about 15 minutes of needle to the face, Emilia applied a cooling mask (my face burned a little) and finished up with a moisturizer and Biologique Recherche's Serum Yall.

I left red (and remained looking a bit sunburned for just under 24 hours, as Dr. Turk said I would), but have no idea what Kim was bitching about. The only thing I have to complain about is that after leaving Dr. Turk's office, I was terrified to go outdoors, fearful that the city air would muck up my now-perfect perfect skin. Trust me: I glowed. And less than a week later, my skin has never looked better or felt smoother. I can't wait to go back for round two… next time with my own blood.